Welcome one and all to the RAW RECAP presented by THE REVELLEUTION! Money in the Bank is fast approaching, and the final Women’s MITB Qualifier has been set. Former Tag Team Champion Raquel Rodriguez will take on WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus! So will it mean that Becky Lynch will have both rivals to face in MITB? Or will there be a powerhouse problem in the Ladder Match? And what will happen in a Night of Champions rematch between Rhea Ripley and Natalya? Let’s get into it, and find out…
World Women’s Champion RHEA RIPLEY along with the rest of The Judgement Day cut a promo from the entranceway. Ripley ranting at the fans for their disrespect and claimed she was the most dominant woman in the division.
Tag Team Match
KAYDEN CARTER & KATANA CHANCE defeated CHELSEA GREEN & SONYA DEVILLE
Deville and Chance started off. Green instantly distracted from the apron to allow Deville to hit a Pump Kick. Chance getting roughed up with stomps then a choke by Green after she got tagged. The spot being audibly called before Green hit a Short-Arm Clothesline then knocked Carter off the apron. Moments later, a cool spot of Chance being sent over the ropes but Carter was there at the apron, her body used to rebound Chance back in to hit a Headscissors.
Tags on both sides as Carter fended off both opponents, stacking the heels in their corner to hit a Back Elbow. Then using a Dropkick to hit Deville and landing a Splash down on Green. A Superkick nailed on Deville, before a tag was made to Chance as the two faces used the bottom rope to Springboard for a Legdrop by Carter and a Moonsault from Chance. Green broke the pin up and got taken out by a Carter Superkick.
Chance hit a Corner Clothesline and stayed there to make a tag, before she was tagged in as the faces hit The Afterparty combo to win.
CATHY KELLEY handled interview duties.
MAXXINE DUPRI and VALHALLA continued their issues alongside their tag teams as Alpha Academy faced The Viking Raiders. A pre-match video showing Dupri being shown how to try and apply a clutch for a Suplex. Late in the match Valhalla got on the apron to distract but Dupri hauled her down and hit a Suplex on the floor. Only for Chad Gable to end up losing as Otis and Dupri were too busy celebrating to see their ‘coach’ being pinned.
Non-Title Singles Match
World Women’s Champion RHEA RIPLEY versus NATALYA never officially started.
Natalya was interviewed before the match as Natalya claimed she was still trying to figure out where she fit in. Calling the match a second chance and an opportunity to prove she still belongs. Ripley decked Natalya from behind as she did her entrance post on the apron. Roughing Natalya up with shots then sending her into the barricade, ring steps and apron. Bad mouthing then hitting a Headbutt before sending Natalya and hitting Riptide. The match having never actually started as Ripley left Natalya down on the mat.
RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ was interviewed and objected to what Rhea Ripley did to Natalya. Ripley walked in on it and didn’t like what she heard about Rodriguez’s plans to cash in on her, leading to a stare-down.
Singes Match – Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
TRISH STRATUS w/h ZOEY STARK defeated RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ by DQ
Stratus had a cut-in interview vowing to win MITB, something that seemed to tick off Stark from her expression before Startus corrected herself to say they would make sure Becky Lynch wouldn’t win. Trish fired off kicks and strikes, but trying for a Lou Thesz Press Rodriguez just caught her and locked in a Bearhug. Rag dolling Stratus before slamming her down. A Bodyslam following then a Corner Splash. Stratus unwisely delivered a slap, which got her charged into a corner for Shoulder Thrusts.
Rodriguez missed a charge into another corner, hitting the ringpost before Stratus hit a Tornado DDT for a near fall. Multiple slams into the mat before Stratus hit a running kick. Stratus tried to do the choke sitting on the corner spot, but couldn’t muscle up Rodriguez so got carried out and backed up into the corner for a break. Rodriguez missed a boot to the corner, leaving her open for a Shoulder Thrust. Stratus pulled Rodriguez’s hair around the turnbuckle connector but Rodriguez broke free, trying for a Running Powerbomb but Stratus managed to counter with a Headscissors to send Rodriguez into the middle turnbuckle. A Roll-Up getting a near fall.
Stratus hit a punch with the Hall of Fame ring she had on, then locked in the Iron Shiek Camel Clutch. But turning into a double fish-hook Rodriguez powered up and turned it into a Side Slam. Rodriguez hitting a Headbutt, a Corner Splash, then Snake Eyes but not going for the boot. Instead levelling Stratus with the Rewind Clothesline. A Fallaway Slam sending Stratus to the floor but when Rodriguez sent her opponent in, Stratus distracted the ref so Stark could sweep the leg as Rodriguez was on the apron. Setting her up to be sent into the ring post by Stratus leading to a near fall.
BECKY LYNCH rushed out and attacked Stark from behind, before she sent her into the barricade. Stratus went to the floor to go after her rival, and got slammed into the barricade. The referee, correctly, called for the DQ because that was outside interference, gifting Stratus a place in MITB. Much to Lynch’s shock and Rodriguez’s anger. The heels scurried away as Lynch tried to justify her unwanted appearance but Rodriguez was hearing none of it.
Rhea Ripley accompanied The Judgement Day as they lost to Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in the main event. At one point Ripley on the apron hit Zayn with a Clothesline while he was in the ring as the ref was distracted. Later, catching Mysterio to save him from falling off the apron but couldn’t stop Sami Zayn from diving over her as she ducked when he charged.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Trish Stratus justified her position back in WWE here with a great performance and taking plenty of bumps. The finish was quick but smart that Lynch’s anger to get revenge came back to haunt her, and potentially costing her an ally in the process. It will be interesting to see how Stratus competes in MITB as her taking ladder spots would be quite wild. Elsewhere Carter & Chance looked good again with a showcase win, while Ripley got to shine with a beatdown. I’m not sure where they’re going with Natalya but it’s not working if we’re supposed to feel sorry for the woman who not too long ago bragged about her ‘World Record’ of having the most wins in WWE. It doesn’t appear like Ripley will have a match at MITB which isn’t too bad but she needs a solid feud as we head towards SummerSlam.
That’s your lot for this week! Be sure to stop by in seven days’ time for the next edition of the RAW RECAP! See you then!